Workplace horseplay draws suspensions

One employee wanted to display her physical strength, son she carried a much larger co-worker for three metres. Because a similar incident had resulted in an injury, the arbitrator backed up the discipline.

By Mark Rogers

04/04/2011|Canadian Labour Reporter|Last Updated: 07/18/2011

Piggybacking a colleague for three metres earned suspensions for two workers.

Employed in a physically demanding job as a “skidder” at a food processing plant, M.B. was hired in 2002. In her 30s, M.B. was known to work out regularly. She weighed approximately 45 kilos.

In his 50s, M.H. weighed about 100 kilos. He had worked at the plant since 1992.